WWE Hall of Famer Paul Heyman recently expressed his strong opinion on why Roman Reigns, also known as the real-life Joe Anoa’i, deserved to win an Emmy award. Heyman praised Reigns’ performance as a standout villain in television during a recent interview, criticizing the Emmy Awards for overlooking his work.
Paul Heyman Reflects on His Partnership with Roman Reigns
Paul Heyman and Roman Reigns share a notable history in World Wrestling Entertainment, having helped create one of the most influential storylines of the past decade, that of The Bloodline. Heyman served as Reigns’ loyal advisor for years, until a turning point at WWE WrestleMania 41, when Heyman betrayed Reigns to align with Seth Rollins.
In an interview on The Ariel Helwani Show, Heyman explained why he stayed by Roman Reigns for so long, calling him “The GOAT” and emphasizing Reigns’ status as the most transformative performer he has worked with.
“Let’s look at this, you know, on a strictly business level. You couldn’t pull me away from Roman Reigns’ coattails unless you showed me the future of this industry. You couldn’t. Why would I ever leave Roman Reigns? Ever. Ever. The GOAT, the most transformative performer I have ever worked with in my life. And it’s not just limited to this industry,” he said. [19:29 – 20:04]
—Paul Heyman, WWE Hall of Famer
Criticism of Emmy Awards for Overlooking Roman Reigns
Heyman argued that Roman Reigns’ character, The Tribal Chief, was the most compelling villain on television and that his ruthless portrayal deserved greater recognition from the Emmy Awards. He expressed disappointment that the awards show failed to acknowledge Reigns’ performance, calling it a disservice to the audience and the art form.
“Joe Anoa’i’s portrayal of The Tribal Chief, Roman Reigns, was the most compelling villain on television and the most ruthless character I’ve seen to this day… The fact [that] the Emmy awards do not recognise these performances is a blight upon the Emmy awards. They should be ashamed of themselves for ripping off their audience by not acknowledging, all puns intended, our body of work,” he added. [20:24 – 20:57]
—Paul Heyman, WWE Hall of Famer
Heyman Highlights Roman Reigns’ Role During WWE’s Pandemic Era
During the same discussion, Heyman praised Roman Reigns‘ impact on WWE throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, crediting him for carrying the company through a challenging period. Heyman recalled Reigns’ return to WWE in August 2020 and his transition into the persona of The Tribal Chief, with Heyman serving as his Special Counsel and later The Wiseman.
“Roman Reigns came back in August 2020, got put with Brock Lesnar’s advocate. I became the Special Counsel to The Tribal Chief and later just known as The Wiseman. And it was on the back of Roman Reigns that WWE got lifted out of the pandemic era. What was the stock that Reigns came back in 2020, and what is it today?”
—Paul Heyman, WWE Hall of Famer
The future plans for Roman Reigns on WWE programming remain uncertain as Triple H’s creative team takes the lead behind the scenes. Heyman’s remarks underscore Reigns’ significant role in shaping WWE’s recent history and set expectations for what fans might see ahead.
